SHEFFIELD TIGERS: Angry Neil Machin lays it on the line with warning to team

Josh Gudgeon
Speedway

TIGERS owner Neil Machin has called for his experienced riders to up their game if they wish to stay at Owlerton.

The Sheffield boss fumed after the club’s second home defeat in a row on Thursday and has never been one to shy away from telling the truth.

In typical forthright fashion, Machin fired a warning to his riders.

“The team has not performed the way they have been promising to perform and it is simply not good enough,” he said.

“We have lost three home meetings in the last month - Scunthorpe, Glasgow and now Edinburgh - they haven’t won them. We have been our own worst enemies time and time again and that showed on Thursday.

“Joe Haines aside, the whole team disappointed me. Hugh Skidmore got paid-six, which is well below par for him, and Ricky Wells scored only half of the points available to him. Richard Hall scored 10 from six rides and for him around Owlerton, that isn’t what you’d expect.

“We obviously weren’t helped by having a guest who was disinterested and didn’t even look like scoring a point, but that’s out of our control.

“We still had enough to beat Edinburgh if everyone performed to their capability.

“I’ve made no secret that we’ll strengthen if the opportunity arises. We are exploring several options and will continue to work hard to give our fans the best possible side. The current riders need to improve.”